Happy Anniverssary, Arthur & Mary!

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

John Denver has always been the height of uncoolness, but the song title above has always struck a deep chord within me. We all look to the future, we all have our hopes, some of us even plan; and youthfulness can add a certain hubris to the mix. But the gods can be cruel, and we are just human, afterall. What remains are the memories of those long ago aspirations and the friends who we shared them with, as they shared theirs. I had the privilege of doing that with several of you reading this, often down in my parents' basement, in front of the fireplace, so many years ago. We've travelled quite a road.I love that line - How long it's been since yesterday...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEfR-DyuHjIThat's the wonderful Mick Ronson on lead and the double-wonderful Ellen Foley on backup vocals, (she's the woman who recorded Paradise By The Dashboard Light with Mr. Loaf). Ian, of course, was one of the mainstays of British rock in the 70's....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW3vh_7BDGkPerfect. One of the greatest songs out of Motown, (and that's saying a lot). When Diana left the Supremes to try and fulfill Barry Gordy's fantasies, most folks probably thought that'd be it for the group. But for a couple more glorious years they soldiered on, and put out some of the best albums of the era with several major hits - Nathan Jones, Floy Joy, and Karen's fave - Up The Ladder To The Roof. Really amazing stuff.

Dixie Liquor wasn't the best liqour store in DC, it wasn't the nicest, the best stocked or much of anything else. But it was strategically placed, right there as Key Bridge emptied all of us Northern Virginians into Gtown and its 18 year old drinking age. On a Friday night you could see a solid phalanx of high schooler cars making a beeline across the Potomac right into Dixie's microscopic parking lot. It was also the first thing you saw in Gtown when crossing the river, a portal sign to Cafe de Paris, Clydes, Winstons, Crazy Horse, the Bayou, Pall Malls, the Cellar Door, Gunchers and another dozen bars and clubs lost in the haze and the fog of time and alcohol. I'd also note that it was located at the bottom of the infamous Exorcist Steps, (as seen in the movie). Still forbidding. And Dixie was there, cashing in with their Exorcist Boubon, (I think I still have that bottle somewhere or another).At any rate, it's gone. And I know that it was never particularly important, but it was one of the last bits of a Georgetown that no longer exists...

Happy Paul Pitcher's Day!

An obscure Cornish miner's holiday that I hope to revive...

"The eve of St. Paul's day is marked in this town by a singular custom called "Paul's Pitcher," the intention or origin of which it is difficult to divine. The boys of the town, after nightfall, slink along the streets and hurl a pitcher into every house which is left incautiously open. "

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Cannibal Holocaust!

As I am typing this, it has just started snowing in DC. If you can believe our weathermen, (which I don't), accumulation should be light. It matters not. By nighfall the city will be paralyzed and we will have reverted to a level of savagery and chaos that will make the Dark Ages look like an ice cream social. We are prepared, and in addition to food, ammunition, and a case of Virginia Gentleman, I have carefully secured my library so that once the Spring thaw hits, those of us who survive can learn again the Old Ways and rebuild our Civilization to what it was in the Before Times...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nHNrk9pj-oI can already hear some of you snickering (Pete), but this was and is a very cool tune. One of the few foreign language hits on American radio in the late 60's, (the only one?); and one of the last gasps of AM radio. Oh some stations wouldn't play it, but the ones that did saw their ratings go up. If I remember correctly, WPGC wouldn't put it on, but WEAM would, (it might have been vice-versa, memories fade like old radio signals...). One Friday night in '69, I heard it being played. After it finished, there was about a five second pause and then the DJ came back on saying - "I've just watched a turntable melt...". It really shook people up at the time, and I think it still holds up well.The video is just still photos, but I could look at stills of Jane Birkin all day long, thank you very much.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

And one of the last pieces of my childhood ends. My father had been following Buchwald since his days at the Herald Tribune. And he loved the gentle satire. He introduced me to the column around when I was in fifth grade. I think my Father's intention was to use the humor in it to get me interested in the politics that it was referring to. Needless to say, it worked (probably not always in ways anticipated by him...).Political satire is something of a craps shoot. Those engaged in it seem to shine during one era and not another. Also, times and tastes can change, and that certainly affected Buchwald and probably the popularity of his column. I think his high-point was the 60's, particularly the Johnson and early Nixon Administrations. And I confess that by the 1980's I only occasionally picked up on it. But to the Post's credit, they kept publishing him right up to the end, a last vestige of its up-and-coming Glory Days of the 60's and 70's.But there was one column I would read each and every time - his annual Thanksgiving one, (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-yn/content/article/2006/11/22/AR2006112201825.html). It's printing became a minor D.C. tradition, and my father always got a kick out of it. Every year my folks would come over for the annual feast, and Dad, with a bit of a twinkle in his eye, would always ask me if I'd read it, and I would of course always affirm that my duty had been accomplished. It was a little psychic touchstone between us. One that I kept up after his passing. And I also placed a copy of it with him at his funeral. A final connection.I wrote Buchwald a couple of years ago about that and received a very gracious reply. My mother also had the opportunity to meet him several times as he visited the shop she worked at for his Holiday shopping and they always had a pleasant chat.The Post's article goes into more detail about his accomplishments and the help and inspiration he brought to others combating depression. But for me, Art Buchwald will always be a reminder of something my father and I could share. So, here's to the memory of a true Washington institution and a nice guy. May Art be where he always gets the best table at Sans Souci!

Happy Ratification Day!

Today commemorates the Ratification of the Treaty of Paris by the Continental Congress in 1784, thus officially ending the War of Independence and making the U.S. an independent nation. The date is almost forgotten now...

There have been highs and there have been lows. There has been genius and there have been disappointments. But the man is a survivor and a talent, and Every Picture Tells A Story is still one of the best rock albums ever, (and the Faces one of the best bands, ever). Stewart may be able to take or leave Rock, and even take or leave his talent, but he understands it, and has it, and when he uses it, you have religion...

Happy Plough Monday!

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Winter...

The Christmas decorations are put away, the champagne is long gone, and we begin a new calendar with little more than cold dark. In summer the dark is inviting and even invigorating. But in January it's just leaden. It neither hides nor reveals, just dampens. It's a period for deseperate plans, or remembering old treacheries. Here's a possible soundtrack:

Incredible! WTOP Radio is doing a series of interviews about places/events in DC rock'n'roll history. There's some cool stories here, (including the George Thorogood - Nighthawks guitar duel on M Street). Essential listening for anyone who was here in the 70's.

The Return of Indy

From the Coming Attractions website:

Indiana Jones Sequel on the way in 2008!The fourth "Indiana Jones" film appears to be destined for a 2008 big screen premiere. All of the "Indiana Jones" principals released the necessary statements over the weekend confirming that production on "Indy IV" will begin in June with an eye toward a May 2008 release. Once again, Lucas will produce, Harrison Ford will star, and Steven Spielberg will direct. Frank Marshall and Kathy Kennedy will return to produced.The final and approved script was written by frequent Spielberg collaborator David Koepp, not that anybody knows what Koepp finally wrote. The plot is being kept under tight wraps with little information provided on how Harrison, now 64, will be able to get back to business as the titular swashbuckling archeologist. In his own statement, Ford contributes, "I'm delighted to be back in business with my old friends. I don't know if the pants still fit, but I know the hat will."LucasFilms Ltd. will produce the fourth film with Paramount distributing. No official release date has been set, but May 2008 is already packed with potential blockbusters including "Iron Man," "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" and the long-gestating "Speed Racer" feature.

Bruce released Greetings From Asbury Park on this date in 1973. The soundtrack to the lives of some of you reading this. One of the most important and influential records in the history of pop music. Essential.

I'm happy to announce that there's now a full-length documentary about every Coloradoan's favorite fowl - Mike The Headless Chicken. I, of course, have worshipped at his majestic statue in the thriving metropolis of beautiful downtown Fruita and I encourage each of you to undertake your own Hajj there and partake of his essence. It will change your life...

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070103/480/dcjm10201032011Perhaps it is global warming, but regardless, this has been one mild Winter here in DC so far. I was outside in a t-shirt today. It's only really been cool enough to have a fire in our beloved fireplace about three times so far this season; I've only counted a few morning frosts, and I don't think the daytime temperature around our place has ever gotten into the 30's. It's been like the last week of October has spread out over ten weeks. My one concern is that all the trees and flowers will be budding and blooming only to get sucker-punched by some hellish ice storm in February or March that'll leave them devastated through Spring. The rosemary bushes are looking great, however...

Happy Handsel Monday!

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Greetings!
This site will be devoted to all the funny, weird, disturbing, and unusual stuff I find or am sent. This will include pictures, games, comics, cartoons, articles, jokes, and anomalies. Enjoy!